Can Video Games Make ADD Worse?

Don't Miss This

We have been told that the use of video games by our grandson with ADD can be damaging to his brain function. Is this a fact, and is there a certain type he could play that would actually help him? By the way, he is obsessed with them.

There is no research that playing video games damages brain function. However, there is some evidence that certain types of video game activities can actually improve working memory, attention span and problem solving.

It is not just children with ADHD who can become obsessed with video games. There are many theories as to why children with ADHD gravitate towards video games, but none of them are research-based or scientifically proven. If you are interested in exploring computer activities that may improve your grandson’s daily problems with attention, you might take a look at the Cogmed, a Swedish company that makes software-based products to help improve working memory.

Last Updated: 12/22/2008

Dr. Sam Goldstein is a psychologist in Salt Lake City, a faculty member at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and the author of books and articles on ADHD.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.